An automotive alternator is driven by an internal combustion engine via a one-way clutch. When the internal combustion engine is in an idling condition, the power generation amount of the automotive alternator is increased during the engaged state of the one-way clutch and is reduced during the disengaged state of the one-way clutch, thereby adequately suppressing the fluctuation of engine speed without increasing the size and weight of the one-way clutch equipped automotive alternator installed on the internal combustion engine.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An alternating-current generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle comprising: a one-way clutch; an automotive alternator driven by an internal combustion engine via said one-way clutch; detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of either said internal combustion engine or said automotive alternator as well as an electric amount relating to a on-off state of said one-way clutch; and control means for controlling a power generation amount of said automotive alternator, wherein said control means performs at least one of two power controls when said internal combustion engine is in a low-rotational operating condition, one of said two power controls is to increase the power generation amount during an engaged state of said one-way clutch and the other of said two power controls is to decrease the power generation amount during a disengaged state of said one-way clutch.
2. The alternating-current generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said one-way clutch comprises a power input section for receiving a driving power from said internal combustion engine and a power output section mechanically connected to a rotor of said automotive alternator which has a plurality of filed poles; said detecting means detects a rotational speed of said power output section based on a frequency component of an output voltage of a multiphase armature winding of said automotive alternator; and said control means compares the rotational speed of said power output section with a rotational speed of said power input section and judges that said one-way clutch is in the engaged state when said rotational speed of said power output section is equal to the rotational speed of said power input section and judges that said one-way clutch is in the disengaged state when said rotational speed of said power output section is not equal to the rotational speed of said power input section.
3. The alternating-current generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said one-way clutch comprises an external wheel portion constituting said power input section, an internal wheel portion disposed coaxially with said external wheel portion and constituting said power output section, and a clutch portion selectively engaging or disengaging said external wheel portion and said internal wheel portion.
4. The alternating-current generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said automotive alternator has a field winding, and said control means is associated with switching means connected in series with said field winding for on-off controlling power current supply to said field winding, wherein said control means closes said switching means when said one-way clutch is in the engaged state and opens said switching means when said one-way clutch is in the disengaged state.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 15, 2001
September 24, 2002
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